CN111856800A

CN111856800A - Display panel and method for manufacturing the same

Info

Publication number: CN111856800A
Application number: CN201910349183.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 潘柏宏; 王兴龙
Original assignee: Lijing Photoelectric Co ltd
Current assignee: Lijing Photoelectric Co ltd; Himax Display Inc
Priority date: 2019-04-28
Filing date: 2019-04-28
Publication date: 2020-10-30

Abstract

A display panel comprises a first substrate and a second substrate which are assembled together, a display medium layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, frame glue between the first substrate and the second substrate and surrounding the display medium layer, a first alignment layer between the first substrate and the display medium layer, a second alignment layer between the second substrate and the display medium layer and a hydrophobic surface. One of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer has an independent central portion. The hydrophobic surface extends from an edge of the free-standing central portion toward an edge of one of the first and second substrates. The sealant extends at least between the hydrophobic surface and an edge of one of the first and second substrates. The hydrophobic surface comprises a hydrophobic material that is more hydrophobic than the freestanding central portion.

Description

Display panel and method for manufacturing the same

Technical Field

The present invention relates to electronic devices, and more particularly, to a display panel.

Background

Liquid crystal display panels typically include a display medium layer that includes a liquid crystal material that includes liquid crystal molecules. In the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display panel, the display medium layer is connected or assembled together by the frame glue or the adhesive and is clamped between the top substrate and the bottom substrate. The process generally includes dropping a liquid crystal liquid including liquid crystal molecules on a top substrate or a bottom substrate via a dispenser (dispenser) or an ink-jet printer (ink-jet printer). When a curable material is used as the sealant or adhesive, the liquid crystal molecules may contact the uncured sealant before the sealant is cured. Such contact may affect the physical properties of the liquid crystal material, for example, the resistivity or ion content of the liquid crystal material. In other words, the performance of the display may be adversely affected by contaminants formed when the liquid crystal molecules contact the uncured sealant.

Disclosure of Invention

A display panel and a method of manufacturing the same are described. The display panel employs a hydrophobic surface to prevent or reduce contamination of the display medium layer due to contact with the uncured sealant, which may adversely affect the performance of the display.

The invention provides a display panel, which comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a display medium layer, frame glue, a first alignment layer, a second alignment layer and a hydrophobic surface. The second substrate is assembled with the first substrate. The display medium layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The frame glue is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate and surrounds the display medium layer. The first alignment layer is disposed on the first substrate and between the first substrate and the display medium layer. The second alignment layer is disposed on the second substrate and between the second substrate and the display medium layer. One of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer has an independent central portion. The hydrophobic surface extends from an edge of the free-standing central portion toward an edge of one of the first and second substrates. The sealant extends at least between the hydrophobic surface and an edge of one of the first and second substrates. The hydrophobic surface comprises a hydrophobic material that is more hydrophobic than the freestanding central portion.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the sealant covers the hydrophobic surface.

In some embodiments of the invention, the sealant partially covers the independent central portion.

In some embodiments of the invention, one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer further comprises an outer portion. A gap separates the outer portion from the independent central portion. The hydrophobic surface extends in the gap.

In some embodiments of the invention, the free-standing central portion and the sealant are separated by a gap, and the hydrophobic surface extends in the gap.

In some embodiments of the invention, the boundary between the free standing central portion and the hydrophobic surface is aligned with an edge of the frame glue.

In some embodiments of the invention, the display panel further comprises a bottom hydrophobic surface disposed under the freestanding central portion. The underlying hydrophobic surface comprises the same material as the hydrophobic surface.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the display panel further includes an outer hydrophobic surface extending between the hydrophobic surface and an edge of one of the first substrate and the second substrate. The outer hydrophobic surface comprises the same material as the hydrophobic surface.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the display panel further includes an inorganic layer disposed on one of the first substrate and the second substrate. A portion of the inorganic layer has a top surface that is a hydrophobic surface.

In some embodiments of the invention, another portion of the inorganic layer overlaps the independent central portion.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a portion of the inorganic layer and another portion of the inorganic layer extend continuously between one of the first substrate and the second substrate and one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the thickness of the inorganic layer is different from the thickness of one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the thickness of the inorganic layer is substantially the same as the thickness of one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the display panel further includes first and second inorganic layers disposed on one of the first and second substrates. The first inorganic layer is disposed between the second inorganic layer and one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer. The first inorganic layer has a gap exposing a portion of the second inorganic layer. A top surface of a portion of the second inorganic layer serves as a hydrophobic surface.

In some embodiments of the invention, the hydrophobic material comprises a silane, a fluorinated silane, a long chain alcohol, or an acid.

The invention also provides a preparation method of the display panel, which comprises the following steps. A first substrate and a second substrate are provided. An alignment material layer is formed on one of the first substrate and the second substrate and each alignment material layer is patterned to form an independent center portion. A hydrophobic surface is formed. The hydrophobic surface extends from an edge of the free-standing central portion toward an edge of one of the first and second substrates. And forming a frame glue material on one of the first substrate and the second substrate. The gap separates the sealant material from the freestanding central portion, and the hydrophobic surface extends in the gap. A drop of display medium material is placed on the free center portion. The display medium material is limited by the hydrophobic surface and does not contact the sealant material. The first substrate and the second substrate are assembled by the frame glue material. And curing the frame glue material to form the frame glue.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a portion of one of the first and second substrates is hydrophobically modified to form a hydrophobic surface, and the gap exposes a portion of one of the first and second substrates.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the method further comprises forming an inorganic layer on one of the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the inorganic layer is exposed at a gap between the free-standing central portion and the sealant material.

In some embodiments of the invention, the inorganic layer is hydrophobically modified to form a hydrophobic surface.

In some embodiments of the present invention, an alignment material layer is completely coated on one of the first substrate and the second substrate and cured and patterned to form an alignment layer, the alignment layer including a separate central portion and an outer portion, a gap separating the outer portion from the separate central portion.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a portion of one of the first and second substrates is hydrophobically modified to form a hydrophobic surface, wherein the gap exposes the portion.

Based on the above, the hydrophobic surface at least prevents or reduces the contamination of the uncured sealant to the display medium layer. The edge of the independent central portion of one of the first and second alignment layers may also help to achieve the same effect. Thus, the hydrophobic surface prevents or reduces degradation of the display performance, which may be due to contamination of the display medium layer caused by contact with the uncured sealant.

In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic top view of a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3A to fig. 3E are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a method for manufacturing a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 to 8 are schematic cross-sectional views of a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 9A to 9D are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a method for manufacturing a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 10A to 10D are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a method for manufacturing a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 11 to 17 are schematic cross-sectional views of a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 18A to 18D are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a method for manufacturing a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 19 and 20 are schematic cross-sectional views of a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 21A to 21D are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a method for manufacturing a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

Description of reference numerals:

100. 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000: display panel

101. 201, 301, 801, 901, 1001: a first alignment layer

101a, 402a, 901a, 902 a: independent central part

101aT, 102T: surface of

101b, 301b, 402b, 901b, 902 b: outer part

101g, 228g, 328g, 402g, 901 g: gap

101 m: a first alignment material layer

102. 202, 302, 402, 902: second alignment layer

103. 203, 303, 403, 503, 603, 703: inorganic layer

105. 205: hydrophobic surfaces

106. 206, 306, 406, 506, 606, 706, 906, 1006, 1106, 1206, 1406, 1506: frame glue

106 m: frame glue material

107. 207, 307: display medium layer

107 m: display medium material

110: first substrate

114: first supporting plate

116: electrode layer

120. 220, 320, 420: second substrate

124: second support plate

126: active layer

128. 228, 328, 428: protective layer

228 a: a first inorganic layer

228b, and (b): second inorganic layer

428 p: protrusion part

AL 1: a first alignment layer

AL 2: second alignment layer

DP: display panel

HS: hydrophobic surfaces

ICP: independent central part

SB 1: first substrate

SB 2: second substrate

SL: frame glue

W: width of

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Identical or similar components will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the figures, where possible.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a top view of some components of the display panel DP. Referring to fig. 1, the display panel DP includes a first substrate SB1, a second substrate SB2, sealant SL, a display medium layer (not shown in fig. 1), a first alignment layer AL1 having an independent central portion ICP, a second alignment layer AL2, and a hydrophobic surface HS. Fig. 1 shows only the relative arrangement and position of the components as seen from above, and does not show the stacked relationship between the components. In the present embodiment, the first substrate SB1 and the second substrate SB2 are stacked one on top of the other, and the shapes of the two substrates viewed from above may be substantially the same, so the outline of the first substrate SB1 and the outline of the second substrate SB2 are aligned as shown in fig. 1. The independent central portion ICP and the hydrophobic surface HS of the first alignment layer AL1 may be disposed on one of the first and second substrates SB1 and SB2 and face the other of the first and second substrates SB1 and SB2, and the second alignment layer AL2 may be disposed on the other of the first and second substrates SB1 and SB 2. The sealant SL may be disposed between the first substrate SB1 and the second substrate SB2 to completely surround the display medium layer, so that the display medium layer and the sealant SL are sandwiched between the first substrate SB1 and the second substrate SB 2.

As shown in fig. 1, the hydrophobic surface HS abuts and completely surrounds the discrete central portion ICP and extends outwardly from the discrete central portion ICP by a width W. The hydrophobic surface HS comprises a hydrophobic material which is more hydrophobic than the free-standing central portion ICP of the first alignment layer AL 1. The sealant SL extends at least between the hydrophobic surface HS and the edge of the first substrate SB1 or the second substrate SB 2. In the present embodiment, the inner edge of the sealant SL is aligned with the outer edge of the hydrophobic surface HS. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the sealant SL may extend inward to at least partially cover the hydrophobic surface HS or may further extend inward to an outer portion that also covers the independent central portion ICP of the first alignment layer AL 1.

The hydrophobic surface HS and the sealant SL may have a frame-shaped pattern when viewed from above. At least the central region of the display panel DP is surrounded by the sealant SL, and the first and second alignment layers AL1 and AL2 are in contact with the display medium layer. In some embodiments, the display medium layer is a liquid crystal layer, and the first and second alignment layers AL1 and AL2 may align and induce a pre-tilt angle (pre-tilt angle) of the liquid crystal molecules.

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display panel 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to fig. 2, the display panel 100 includes a first substrate 110, a second substrate 120, a sealant 106, a display medium layer 107, a first alignment layer 101 having an independent central portion 101a, a second alignment layer 102, and a hydrophobic surface 105. The display panel 100 may have a top view similar to the display panel DP of fig. 1, wherein the first alignment layer AL1 of fig. 1 may present a top view of the isolated center portion 101a of the first alignment layer 101. In other words, the display panel 100 shown in fig. 2 is similar to the display panel DP shown in fig. 1. Further description of the display panel 100 shown in fig. 2, which is the same as the details of the display panel DP already described in fig. 1, may be omitted.

In fig. 2, the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 are arranged opposite to each other, and the sealant 106 is disposed between the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120. Specifically, the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 are assembled with each other via the sealant 106. The display medium layer 107 is disposed between the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 and surrounded by the sealant 106. The display medium layer 107 is surrounded by the first substrate 110, the second substrate 120 and the sealant 106. The material of the display medium layer 107 may be a liquid crystal material, and thus the first substrate 110, the second substrate 120, the display medium layer 107 and the sealant 106 may serve as a liquid crystal unit.

The first alignment layer 101 is disposed between the first substrate 110 and the display medium layer 107. In this particular embodiment, the first alignment layer 101 is composed of a separate central portion 101 a. The hydrophobic surface 105 of the first substrate 110 extends a width W from the edge of the independent central portion 101a outward toward the edge of the first substrate 110. The hydrophobic surface 105 of fig. 2 may have a top view similar to the hydrophobic surface HS shown in fig. 1, except that the sealant 106 of fig. 2 may extend to overlap the hydrophobic surface 105. The inner edge of the sealant 106 is aligned with the boundary between the independent central portion 101a and the hydrophobic surface 105. The second alignment layer 102 is disposed between the second substrate 120 and the display medium layer 107. The properties of the first alignment layer 101 (including its material) may be the same as those of the second alignment layer 102, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The first substrate 110 may include a first support plate 114 and an electrode layer 116 disposed on the first support plate 114. The electrode layer 116 completely covers the surface of the first support plate 114 facing the display medium layer 107; alternatively, the electrode layer 116 may be patterned as desired. The material of the first support plate 114 may be glass, quartz, or the like. The material of the electrode layer 116 may be a transparent conductive material, such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). The first alignment layer 101 is disposed on the electrode layer 116 and opposite to the first support plate 114.

The second substrate 120 may be a transistor array substrate, which includes a second support plate 124, an active layer 126, and a protective layer 128. An active layer 126 is disposed between the second support plate 124 and the display medium layer 107, and a protective layer 128 is disposed between the active layer 126 and the display medium layer 107. The second support plate 124 may be a glass plate, a silicon backplane (silicon backplane), or the like. The active layer 126 may be a transistor array, such as a thin film transistor array or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) element array. The protective layer 128 may include an oxide or nitride or other corrosion resistant material for protecting the active layer 126 from corrosion. The active layer 126 and the electrode layer 116 may provide a driving electric field (driving electric field) to drive the display medium layer 107. In some embodiments, the display panel 100 may be a thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panel or a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) display panel. In some alternative embodiments, the electrode layer 116 may be omitted based on the design of the driving circuit of the display panel 100.

The first alignment layer 101 is disposed between the electrode layer 116 and the display medium layer 107. The first alignment layer 101 is disposed on the electrode layer 116, and the electrode layer 116 is sandwiched between the first alignment layer 101 and the first support plate 114.

The second alignment layer 102 is disposed on the protective layer 128 and between the protective layer 128 and the display medium layer 107. In this particular embodiment, the second alignment layer 102 completely covers the side of the second substrate 120 facing the display medium layer 107.

Fig. 3A to fig. 3E are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a manufacturing method of a display panel 200 according to an embodiment of the invention. The method of manufacturing the display panel 200 of fig. 3E may include the following steps, but the invention is not limited thereto and the order of the steps is not limited to the order of the steps presented herein.

Referring to fig. 3A, a first substrate 110 is provided, which includes a first support plate 114 and an electrode layer 116 disposed on the first support plate 114. The first substrate 110 may be similar to that shown in fig. 2. The first alignment material layer 101m is disposed on the electrode layer 116 of the first substrate 110. The material of the first alignment material layer 101m may be organic (e.g., heat-curable or UV-curable polyimide) or inorganic (e.g., silicon oxide, zinc oxide, or a combination thereof).

Referring to fig. 3B, the first alignment material layer 101m is patterned to form a first alignment layer 201. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the first alignment layer 201 may be directly formed into a desired pattern, thereby omitting a patterning step after the formation step. In the present specific embodiment, the first alignment layer 201 is composed of the independent central portion 101a and the outer portion 101b separated from the independent central portion 101a via the gap 101 g. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the first alignment layer may have a different pattern. The first alignment layer 201 may be otherwise similar to the first alignment layer 101 shown in fig. 2. In some embodiments, the material of the first alignment material layer 101m is organic, and the first alignment layer 201 may be formed through a wet process, for example, a spin coating method (spin coating), a slit coating method (slit coating), a flexographic coating method (APR coating), or an inkjet printing method. The raw material used may include polyamic acid or polyimide, which may then be cured to form the first alignment layer 201. The organic material of the first alignment layer 201 may include polyimide that is thermally or UV cured. In some embodiments, the material of the first alignment material layer 101m is inorganic, and the first alignment layer 201 may be, for example, via a sol-gel (sol-gel) process or thermal evaporation of the desired material Plating (thermal deposition) is performed, for example, by obliquely depositing silicon oxide (SiO)_x) Nanostructured zinc oxide (ZnO) or nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (nanoporous anodic oxide). The first alignment material layer 101m of inorganic material may be patterned by etching, including wet etching or dry etching (e.g., laser etching or plasma etching) to produce the first alignment layer 201. Alternatively, the first alignment layer 201 of the inorganic material may be directly formed in a desired pattern by, for example, using a shadow mask during a thermal evaporation process to shield regions where the material of the first alignment layer 201 is not required. In some embodiments, the first alignment layer 201 may have a thickness between about 200 nm and 2000 nm.

Referring to fig. 3C, the surface of the electrode layer 116 exposed by the gap 101g is hydrophobically modified to form a hydrophobic surface 105. The hydrophobic surface 105 may be similar to that shown in fig. 2. Hydrophobic modification of the surface of the electrode layer 116 may be performed by providing a hydrophobic material on the surface via, for example, chemical vapor deposition or inkjet printing. The hydrophobic material may comprise silane (silane), fluorinated silane (fluorinated silane), long-chain alcohol (long-chain alcohol), or acid. The hydrophobic surface 105 is more hydrophobic than the first alignment layer 201 and may have a water contact angle (water contact angle) of more than 60 degrees.

Referring to fig. 3D, the sealant material 106m is formed on the first substrate 110, wherein the gap 101g separates the sealant material 106m from the independent central portion 101a of the first alignment layer 201. In this embodiment, the sealant material 106m is formed on the outer portion 101b of the first alignment layer 201. A display medium material 107m (e.g., a liquid crystal material) is disposed on the free-standing central portion 101a of the first alignment layer 201. The diffusion or flow of the display media material 107m is limited by the hydrophobic surface 105, so the display media material 107m does not contact the sealant material 106 m. The display dielectric material 107m may be disposed on the independent center portion 101a via an onedrop filling (ODF) process, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the display panel 100, the display panel 200, or the display panels described below may be manufactured from a mother board (mother panel). The mother substrate may include a plurality of display units, and each display unit of the mother substrate is cut from one mother substrate. During the liquid crystal drop-in-fill (ODF) process, display dielectric material is sequentially dropped on each display cell. Therefore, some display units are dropped with the display medium material earlier than other display units, so that the display medium material is in contact with the uncured sealant material longer in some display units during the dropping step of the display medium material. However, in the present embodiment, the hydrophobic surface 105 limits the diffusion of the display medium material 107m, and minimizes the contact between the display medium material 107m and the uncured sealant material 106 m. Therefore, contamination of the display medium material 107m and the uncured sealant material 106m can be avoided or minimized.

Referring to fig. 3E, a second substrate 120 is provided, which includes a second supporting plate 124, an active layer 126 and a protection layer 128. The second alignment layer 102 is formed on the protection layer 128 of the second substrate 120. The second substrate 120 and the second alignment layer 102 may be similar to those shown in fig. 2. The material of the second alignment layer 102 may be the same as that of the first alignment layer 201, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The formation process of the second alignment layer 102 may also be different from that of the first alignment layer 201 in that the formed pattern may be different. For example, in the present embodiment, the second alignment layer 102 completely covers the top surface of the protection layer 128 and is not subjected to any further patterning.

Thereafter, the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 are assembled by the sealant material 106 m. The sealant material 106m may include a curable material, such as a photo-curable material or a thermal-curable material. After the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 are bonded by the sealant material 106m, a photo-curing or thermal-curing step may be performed to form the sealant 206. The display medium material 107m may fill the display medium space surrounded by the sealant 206, the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 to form the display medium layer 207. The sealant 206 and the display medium layer 207 may be similar to the sealant 106 and the display medium layer 107 of the display panel 100 of fig. 2.

The surface 101aT of the first alignment layer 201 and the surface 102T of the second alignment layer 102 are in direct contact with the display medium layer 207. In some embodiments, the material of the first alignment layer 201 and the second alignment layer 102 is silicon oxide, and aT least one of the surface 101aT and the surface 102T may be cleaned, for example, via a wet cleaning process using a water jet method (water jet), before the display panel 200 is assembled. Surface 101aT and surface 102T may have a water contact angle of about 5 degrees or less when cleaned, as compared to a water contact angle between 20 degrees and 40 degrees when not cleaned. A smaller water contact angle may facilitate a pre-tilt angle (pre-tilt angle) of the material (e.g., liquid crystal) of the display medium layer 207.

Similarly, before the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 are assembled by using the sealant 206, the amount and the position of the display medium material 107m and the sealant material 106m deposited on the first alignment layer 201 (as shown in fig. 3) can be adjusted to make the sealant 206 and the display medium layer 207 in the display panel 200 reach the desired size and position after the assembly. During the assembly step, the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 may be positioned on opposite sides of the sealant material 106m, and the sealant material 106m may be compressed and cured. Therefore, the width of the cured sealant 206 can be different from the uncured sealant material 106 m. In the particular embodiment shown in fig. 3E, after compression and curing, the sealant 206 of the display panel 200 covers the hydrophobic surface 105, partially covers the free-standing central portion 101a of the first alignment layer 201, and extends toward the outer edge of the outer portion 101b of the first alignment layer 201. The area of the sealant 206 covering a portion of the independent central portion 101a, the hydrophobic surface 105, and a portion of the outer portion 101b is substantially the same as the relative area of the sealant 206 covering a portion of the second alignment layer 102. The display panel 100 of fig. 2 can be manufactured by a method similar to that shown in fig. 3A to 3E, except that at least the amount of sealant material 106m and the dropping position of the display medium material 107m can be adjusted, so that the cured sealant 106 shown in fig. 2 does not cover the top surface of the independent central portion 101a of the first alignment layer 101.

Fig. 4 to 8 are schematic cross-sectional views of a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to fig. 4 to 8, each of the display panels 300 to 700 is similar to the display panel 200 of fig. 3E. Each of the display panels 300 to 700 includes a first substrate 110, a second substrate 120, and a hydrophobic surface 105. The display panel 300 of fig. 4 further includes a sealant 306, a display medium layer 207, a first alignment layer 301 having a separate central portion 101a and outer portion 301b, and a second alignment layer 102. The display panel 400 of fig. 5 further includes a sealant 406, a display medium layer 207, a first alignment layer 201 having a separate central portion 101a and outer portion 101b, and a second alignment layer 202. The display panel 500 in fig. 6 further includes a sealant 506, a display medium layer 207, a first alignment layer 201 having a separate central portion 101a and outer portion 101b, and a second alignment layer 302. The display panel 600 in fig. 7 further includes a sealant 606, a display medium layer 307, a first alignment layer 201 having a separate central portion 101a and outer portion 101b, and a second alignment layer 102. The display panel 700 in fig. 8 further includes a sealant 706, a display medium layer 407, a first alignment layer 201 having a separate central portion 101a and outer portion 101b, and a second alignment layer 102. The first substrate 110, the second substrate 120, each sealant, each display medium layer, each first alignment layer, each second alignment layer, and the hydrophobic surface 105 may be similar to those shown in fig. 3E. The respective display panels 300 to 700 of fig. 4 to 8 will be described in sequence, and the same details as those of the display panel 200 of fig. 3E will be omitted.

Referring to fig. 4, the display panel 300 is different from the display panel 200 of fig. 3E in that an outer portion 301b of the first alignment layer 301 extends from the hydrophobic surface 105 toward the edge of the first substrate 110, but does not reach the outer edge of the first substrate 110. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the sealant 306 of the display panel 300 covers the top surface and the side surface of the outer portion 301b exposed after the first alignment layer 301 is formed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The first alignment layer 301 is formed in a similar manner to the first alignment layer 201 of the display panel 200 of fig. 3E, wherein the first alignment layer 301 is patterned into a desired pattern after forming or directly after forming the desired pattern as described for the formation of the gap 101g in fig. 3B.

Referring to fig. 5, the display panel 400 is different from the display panel 200 of fig. 3E in that the edge of the second alignment layer 202 extends toward the edge of the second substrate 120 but does not reach the edge of the second substrate 120. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the sealant 406 and the display medium layer 207 cover the top surface and the side surface of the second alignment layer 202 exposed after the second alignment layer 202 is formed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the sealant covering the second alignment layer 202 may be narrower, so that a portion of the second alignment layer 202 remains exposed. The second alignment layer 202 is formed in a similar manner to the first alignment layer 201 of the display panel 200 of fig. 3E, wherein the second alignment layer 202 is patterned into a desired pattern after forming or directly forming the desired pattern.

Referring to fig. 6, the display panel 500 is different from the display panel 200 of fig. 3E in that the edge of the second alignment layer 302 is aligned with the edge of the display medium layer 207. In other words, the second alignment layer 302 extends within the region surrounded by the sealant 506. Therefore, the sealant 506 does not overlap the second alignment layer 302. The second alignment layer 302 is formed in a similar manner to the first alignment layer 201 of the display panel 200 of fig. 3E, wherein the second alignment layer 302 is patterned into a desired pattern after forming or directly forming the desired pattern.

Referring to fig. 7, the difference between the display panel 600 and the display panel 200 of fig. 3E is that the display medium layer 307 and the sealant 606 both partially cover the hydrophobic surface 105. The display medium layer 307 and the sealant 606 are formed similarly to the display medium layer 207 and the sealant 206 of the display panel 200 of fig. 3E.

Referring to fig. 8, the display panel 700 is different from the display panel 200 of fig. 3E in that the inner edge of the sealant 706 is aligned with the boundary between the outer portion 101b of the first alignment layer 201 and the hydrophobic surface 105, and the display medium layer 407 at least partially covers the hydrophobic surface 105. The display medium layer 407 and the sealant 706 are formed similarly to the display medium layer 207 and the sealant 206 of the display panel 200 of fig. 3E.

Fig. 9A to 9D are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a manufacturing method of a display panel 800 according to an embodiment of the invention. The method of manufacturing the display panel 800 of fig. 9D may include the following steps, but the invention is not limited thereto and the order of the steps is not limited to the order of the steps presented herein. The manufacturing method in fig. 9A to 9D will be described and the same details as those of the already described manufacturing method of the display panel 200 of fig. 3A to 3E will be omitted.

Referring to fig. 9A, a second substrate 120 is provided, which includes a second supporting plate 124, an active layer 126 and a protection layer 128. The second substrate 120 may be similar to that shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3E. The second alignment material layer 102m is disposed on the protective layer 128 of the second substrate 120. The second alignment material layer 102m (including its material) may be as described above for the first alignment material layer 101m of fig. 3A.

Referring to fig. 9B, the second alignment material layer 102m is patterned to form a second alignment layer 402 having an independent central portion 402a and an outer portion 402B separated from the independent central portion 402a by a gap 402 g. The second alignment layer 402 may be formed, patterned, and have properties including its thickness as described above for the first alignment layer 201 in relation to fig. 3A-3B.

Referring to fig. 9C, in a manner similar to that described above with respect to fig. 3C-3D, the sealant material 106m and the hydrophobic surface 105 are formed on the second substrate 120, and the display medium material 107m is disposed on the independent central portion 402a, wherein in fig. 9C, the second substrate 120 and the second alignment layer 402 replace the first substrate 110 and the first alignment layer 201, respectively. The sealant material 106m, the hydrophobic surface 105, and the display medium material 107m may be similar to those shown in fig. 3C to 3D.

Referring to fig. 9D, a first substrate 110 having a first alignment layer 801 completely covering a top surface thereof is provided. The first substrate 110 and the first alignment layer 801 may be similar in other respects to the corresponding portions shown in fig. 3E. Then, as described above with respect to fig. 3E, the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 are assembled via the sealant 206 formed of the sealant material 106 m. This method results in the display panel 800 having a hydrophobic surface 105 on the second substrate 120, that is, on the opposite substrate in the display panel 200 shown in fig. 3E. In the present embodiment, the sealant 206 may cover the hydrophobic surface 105 and a portion of the independent central portion 402a in the gap 402g, similar to the sealant 206 covering the hydrophobic surface 105 and a portion of the independent central portion 101a in the gap 101g in fig. 3E. In some embodiments, the sealant 206 can selectively extend to the edge of the free standing central portion 402a (e.g., the sealant 106 shown in fig. 2), selectively expose a portion of the gap 402g (e.g., the sealant 606 shown in fig. 7), or be aligned with the boundary between the gap 402g and the outer portion 402b (e.g., the sealant 706 shown in fig. 8). In addition, in some embodiments, the outer portion 402b of the second alignment layer 402 may be omitted, and the sealant 206 may contact the protection layer 128 at the outer region of the hydrophobic surface 105. Alternatively, the outer portion 402b of the second alignment layer 402 may not extend to the edge of the second substrate 120, and the sealant 206 may cover the top surface and the side surface of the outer portion 402 b.

Fig. 10A to 10D are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a manufacturing method of a display panel 900 according to an embodiment of the invention. The method for manufacturing the display panel 900 of fig. 10D may include the following steps, but the invention is not limited thereto and the sequence of the steps is not limited to the sequence of the steps presented herein. The manufacturing method shown in fig. 10A to 10D will be described and the same details as those of the already described manufacturing method of the display panel 200 of fig. 3A to 3E will be omitted.

Referring to fig. 10A and 10B, a first substrate 110 is provided, which includes a first support plate 114 and an electrode layer 116. The first substrate 110 may be similar to that shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3E. In the present embodiment, the inorganic layer 103 is provided on the electrode layer 116. The inorganic layer 103 may be formed by evaporation (evaporation), sputtering (sputtering), or Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). The material of the inorganic layer 103 may be an oxide, a metal oxide, or a combination thereof, and may include silicon oxide, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, or the like. In some embodiments, the inorganic layer 103 may be a stacked structure having more than one inorganic material. The formation of the first alignment layer 901 and its properties are as described above for the first alignment layer 201 in relation to fig. 3A-3B. In this particular embodiment, the inorganic layer 103 is thinner than the first alignment layer 901. In the present embodiment, the first alignment layer 901 includes an independent center portion 901a and an outer portion 901b, and a gap 901g is formed in the first alignment layer 901 to separate the independent center portion 901a from the outer portion 901 b. As shown in fig. 10B, the gap 901g exposes at least a portion of the inorganic layer 103.

Referring to fig. 10C, a hydrophobic surface treatment is performed. The material of the inorganic layer 103 may be different from that of the first alignment layer 901 and may be different in chemical reactivity to the hydrophobic material used to form the hydrophobic surface 105, and thus the hydrophobic surface 105 is preferably formed on the inorganic layer 103 rather than the first alignment layer 901. For example, the inorganic layer 103 may include a material having surface hydroxyl groups to facilitate the formation of the hydrophobic surface 105. Thus, the exposed portions of the inorganic layer 103 may be modified to be functionalized with a hydrophobic material, thereby forming a hydrophobic surface 105 in the gap 901g on the inorganic layer 103. In addition, as described above with respect to fig. 3D, the sealant material 106m is formed on the first substrate 110, and the display medium material 107m is disposed on the independent central portion 901a of the first alignment layer 901, wherein the hydrophobic surface 105, the sealant material 106m, and the display medium material 107m may be similar to those shown in fig. 3D.

Referring to fig. 10D, a second substrate 120 is provided, and as described above with respect to fig. 3E, the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 are assembled via the sealant 206, wherein the second substrate 120 may be similar to that shown in fig. 3E. This results in the display panel 900 having a hydrophobic surface 105 disposed on the inorganic layer 103 on the first substrate 110. The sealant 206, the hydrophobic surface 105, and the first alignment layer 901 may be similar to those shown in any one of fig. 2, 7, and 8.

Fig. 11 to 17 are schematic cross-sectional views of a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to fig. 11 to 17, each of the display panels 1000 to 1600 is similar to the display panel 900 of fig. 10D. Each of the display panels 1000 to 1600 includes a first substrate 110, a second substrate 120, and a hydrophobic surface 105. The display panel 1000 in fig. 11 further includes a display medium layer 207, a sealant 906, a first alignment layer 1001 having an independent central portion 901a, a second alignment layer 102, and an inorganic layer 103. The display panel 1100 in fig. 12 further includes a display medium layer 207, sealant 106, a first alignment layer 1001 having an independent central portion 901a, a second alignment layer 102, and an inorganic layer 203. The display panel 1200 in fig. 13 further includes a display medium layer 207, a sealant 1006, a first alignment layer 1001 having an independent central portion 901a, a second alignment layer 102, and an inorganic layer 303. The display panel 1300 in fig. 14 further includes a display medium layer 207, sealant 1006, a first alignment layer 1001 with an independent central portion 901a, a second alignment layer 102, and an inorganic layer 403. The display panel 1400 in fig. 15 further includes a display medium layer 107, a sealant 1106, a first alignment layer 201 having a separate central portion 101a and outer portion 101b, a second alignment layer 102, and an inorganic layer 503. The display panel 1500 in fig. 16 further includes a display medium layer 107, a sealant 1206, a first alignment layer 201 having an independent central portion 101a and an independent outer portion 101b, a second alignment layer 102, and an inorganic layer 603. The display panel 1600 in fig. 17 further includes a display medium layer 207, a sealant 206, a first alignment layer 801, a second alignment layer 102 having a separate central portion 902a and outer portion 902b, and an inorganic layer 703. The first substrate 110, the second substrate 120, each display medium layer, each sealant, each first alignment layer, each second alignment layer, the hydrophobic surface 105, and each inorganic layer may be similar to those shown in fig. 10D. Each embodiment shown in fig. 11 to 17 will be described in order, and the same details as those of the previous embodiment will be omitted.

Referring to fig. 11, the display panel 1000 is different from the display panel 100 of fig. 2 in that an inorganic layer 103 is disposed therein. A portion of the inorganic layer 103 is disposed between the electrode layer 116 of the first substrate 110 and the independent center portion 901a of the first alignment layer 1001, and the other portion of the inorganic layer 103 including the hydrophobic surface 105 is disposed between the electrode layer 116 and the sealant 906. The inorganic layer 103 extends towards the edge of the first substrate 110 beyond the outer edge of its upper hydrophobic surface 105. In other words, the sealant 906 covers a top surface and a side surface of a portion of the inorganic layer 103 between the hydrophobic surface 105 and the edge of the first substrate 110. The formation of the inorganic layer 103 including the hydrophobic surface 105 and its properties are as described above for the display panel 900 associated with fig. 10A to 10C.

Referring to fig. 12, a display panel 1100 is different from the display panel 1000 of fig. 11 in that an edge of the inorganic layer 203 is aligned with an outer edge of the hydrophobic surface 105. The inorganic layer 203 is otherwise the same as the inorganic layer 103.

Referring to fig. 13, a difference between the display panel 1200 and the display panel 1000 of fig. 11 is that an edge of the inorganic layer 303 is aligned with an outer edge of the sealant 1006. The inorganic layer 303 is otherwise the same as the inorganic layer 103.

Referring to fig. 14, a display panel 1300 is different from the display panel 1000 of fig. 11 in that an edge of the inorganic layer 403 is aligned with an edge of the first substrate 110. The inorganic layer 403 is otherwise the same as the inorganic layer 103.

Referring to fig. 15, a difference between the display panel 1400 and the display panel 900 of fig. 10D is that the thickness of the inorganic layer 503 is substantially the same as the thickness of the first alignment layer 201. The inorganic layer 503 is otherwise the same as the inorganic layer 103. In the present embodiment, the hydrophobic surface 105 is formed on at least a portion of the inorganic layer 503 to face the sealant 1106. Other aspects of the hydrophobic surface 105 are as described in the previous embodiments.

Referring to fig. 16, a difference between the display panel 1500 and the display panel 1400 of fig. 15 is that the inorganic layer 603 is thicker than the first alignment layer 201. The inorganic layer 603 is otherwise the same as the inorganic layer 503.

Referring to fig. 17, the display panel 1600 is different from the display panel 800 of fig. 9D in that an inorganic layer 703 is disposed on the protection layer 128 of the second substrate 120, and then a second alignment layer 902 is formed thereon. The inorganic layer 703 and the second alignment layer 902 comprising the hydrophobic surface 105 are otherwise identical to the inorganic layer 103 of fig. 10D and the second alignment layer 402 of fig. 9D, respectively.

Fig. 18A to 18D are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a method for manufacturing a display panel 1700 according to an embodiment of the invention. The method of manufacturing the display panel 1700 of FIG. 18D may include the following steps, but the invention is not limited thereto and the order of the steps is not limited to the order of the steps presented herein. The manufacturing method illustrated in fig. 18A to 18D will be described and the same details as those of the already described manufacturing method of the display panel 800 of fig. 9A to 9D will be omitted.

Referring to fig. 18A, a second substrate 220 is provided, which includes a second supporting plate 124, an active layer 126 and a protective layer 228. The second substrate 220 is different from the second substrate 120 of fig. 9A in that the protective layer 228 includes a first inorganic layer 228a and a second inorganic layer 228 b. The second inorganic layer 228b is disposed on the active layer 126 and between the active layer 126 and the first inorganic layer 228 a. In this embodiment, the material of the first inorganic layer 228a is different from the material of the second inorganic layer 228 b. For example, the material of the first inorganic layer 228a includes silicon nitride, and the material of the second inorganic layer 228b includes silicon oxide. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The first inorganic layer 228a has a gap 228g exposing a portion of the second inorganic layer 228 b.

Referring to fig. 18B, a second alignment layer 402 is formed on the first inorganic layer 228 a. The second alignment layer 402 is formed in the desired pattern, i.e., with a gap 402g separating the independent central portion 402a from the outer portion 402b of the second alignment layer 402, with the gap 402g corresponding to the underlying gap 228 g. That is, after the second alignment layer 402 is formed, the gap 228g is exposed by the gap 402 g. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the first inorganic layer 228a, the second inorganic layer 228b, and the second alignment layer 402 may be formed prior to the formation of the gap 228g and the gap 402g, for example, in one step.

Referring to fig. 18C and 18D, at least a portion of the surface of the second inorganic layer 228b exposed by the gap 228g and the gap 402g forms the hydrophobic surface 105. In some embodiments, the hydrophobic surface 105 is formed via surface treatment of the gap 228g and a portion of the surface of the second inorganic layer 228b exposed by the gap 402 g. In some other embodiments, the hydrophobic surface 105 is formed in the gap 228g before the second alignment layer 402 is formed. For example, in the step of fig. 18A, the second inorganic layer 228b is functionalized with a hydrophobic material, and the first inorganic layer 228A is formed on the functionalized second inorganic layer 228 b. Thereafter, a gap 228g is formed to expose a portion of the functionalized surface of the second inorganic layer 228b as the hydrophobic surface 105.

Subsequent steps for manufacturing the display panel 1700 are the same as described for the display panel 800 with respect to fig. 9C-9D, and other portions of the display panel 1700 and any intermediate versions thereof shown in fig. 18D are the same as or similar to the corresponding versions shown in fig. 9C-9D. The method results in the display panel 1700 having the hydrophobic surface 105 on the second inorganic layer 228b of the gap 228 g.

Fig. 19 and 20 are schematic cross-sectional views of a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to fig. 19 and 20, the display panel 1800 and the display panel 1900 are similar to the display panel 800 of fig. 9D. Each of the display panel 1800 and the display panel 1900 includes a first substrate 110, a display medium layer 207, a first alignment layer 801, a second alignment layer 402 having independent central and

outer portions

402a and 402b, and a hydrophobic surface 105. The display panel 1800 in fig. 19 further includes a second substrate 320 and sealant 1406. The second substrate 320 includes a protective layer 328 and an active layer 126. The display panel 1900 in fig. 20 further includes a second substrate 420 and sealant 1506. The second substrate 420 includes a protective layer 428 having a protrusion 428p, and the hydrophobic surface 105 is a top surface of the protrusion 428 p. The first substrate 110, the second substrates, the display medium layer 207, the sealant, the first alignment layer 801, the second alignment layer 402, and the hydrophobic surface 105 may be similar to the corresponding portions shown in fig. 9D. Each embodiment shown in fig. 19 and 20 will be described in order, and the same details as the foregoing embodiment will be omitted.

Referring to fig. 19, the difference between the display panel 1800 and the display panel 800 of fig. 9D is that the passivation layer 328 of the second substrate 320 has a gap 328g, and the gap 328g corresponds to the gap 402g of the second alignment layer 402 and extends through the passivation layer 328 to the active layer 126. Further, at least a portion of the surface of the active layer 126 exposed by the gap 328g of the protective layer 328 is functionalized with a hydrophobic material and acts as the hydrophobic surface 105.

Referring to fig. 20, a difference between the display panel 1900 and the display panel 800 of fig. 9D is that the protection layer 428 of the second substrate 420 has a protrusion 428p, and the protrusion 428p corresponds to the gap 402g of the second alignment layer 402. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 428p of the protection layer 428 may extend to a height aligned with the top surface of the second alignment layer 402. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the height of the protrusion 428p may be different from the thickness of the second alignment layer 402. In some embodiments, the protrusion 428p of the protective layer 428 may be formed as an additional patterned layer on top of the base layer, where the patterned layer and the base layer are the same material. In some embodiments, a layer of passivation material is formed, and then the top of the layer of passivation material is selectively removed via patterning (which may be etching) to form the protective layer 428 having the protrusions 428 p. Further, at least a portion of the top surface of the protruding portion 428p of the protective layer 428 is functionalized with a hydrophobic material to serve as the hydrophobic surface 105. The second alignment layer 402 is then formed on the protective layer 428 and does not cover the hydrophobic surface 105.

Fig. 21A to 21D are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a manufacturing method of a display panel 2000 according to an embodiment of the invention. The method of manufacturing the display panel 2000 of fig. 21D may include the following steps, but the invention is not limited thereto and the order of the steps is not limited to the order of the steps presented herein. The manufacturing method shown in fig. 21A to 21D will be described and the same details as have been described in the previous embodiments, particularly the manufacturing method of the display panel 200 of fig. 3A to 3E, will be omitted.

Referring to fig. 21A to 21C, a first substrate 110 is provided, which includes a first support plate 114 and an electrode layer 116 disposed on the first support plate 114. The first substrate 110 may be similar to that shown in fig. 3E. Before the first alignment layer is formed on the first substrate 110, a hydrophobic surface 205 shown in fig. 21B is formed on the top surface of the first substrate 110 facing away from the electrode layer 116 of the first support plate 114. Here, the hydrophobic surface 205 may be formed via surface treatment of the top surface of the electrode layer 116, such that the top surface of the electrode layer 116 is functionalized via a hydrophobic material to serve as the hydrophobic surface 205. In the present embodiment, the hydrophobic surface 205 is formed on the entire top surface of the electrode layer 116. But the invention is not limited thereto. The hydrophobic surface 205 may be otherwise formed on only a portion of the top surface of the electrode layer 116, similar to the formation of the hydrophobic surface 105 of the display panel 200 of fig. 3C. After the hydrophobic surface 205 is formed, the first alignment layer 201 as shown in fig. 21C is formed on the first substrate 110. The first alignment layer 201 has a gap 101g exposing a portion of the hydrophobic surface 205, and the gap 101g separates the independent central portion 101a from the outer portion 101b of the first alignment layer 201. In other embodiments, the extension of the hydrophobic surface 205 under the first alignment layer 201 may include at least the surface of the electrode layer 116 exposed by the gap 101g up to the entire surface of the electrode layer 116 facing the first alignment layer 201. For example, the hydrophobic surface 205 may extend in the gap 101g and under the separate central portion 101a of the first alignment layer 201, or may extend in the gap 101g and under the outer portion 101b of the first alignment layer 201. The formation of the first alignment layer 201 and its properties are as described for the display panel 200 in relation to fig. 3B.

Referring to fig. 21D, subsequent steps for manufacturing the display panel 2000 are the same as described with respect to the display panel 200 of fig. 3D-3E, and other portions shown in fig. 21D and any intermediate versions thereof are the same as or similar to the corresponding versions shown in fig. 3D and 3E. This method results in the display panel 2000 having a hydrophobic surface 205 on the entire surface of the electrode layer 116 facing the display medium layer 107 and the sealant 106 and under the first alignment layer 201. However, the first alignment layer 201 exposes only a portion of the hydrophobic surface 205 surrounding the isolated center portion 101a of the first alignment layer 201. In the present embodiment, the sealant 106 may cover the hydrophobic surface 205 of the gap 101g, and an inner edge of the sealant 106 may be aligned with an edge of the independent central portion 101 a. In some embodiments, the sealant 106 can selectively cover a portion of the free standing central portion 101a (similar to the sealant 206 shown in fig. 3E), selectively cover only a portion of the gap 101g (similar to the sealant 606 of fig. 7), or be aligned with the boundary between the gap 101g and the outer portion 110b (similar to the sealant 706 shown in fig. 8).

In summary, the hydrophobic surface at least adjacent to the independent central portion of at least one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer limits the range of the display medium material during the manufacturing process of the display panel to prevent or reduce the contact between the display medium material and the uncured sealant, thereby preventing or reducing the contamination of the display medium material by the uncured sealant. The edge of the independent central portion of at least one of the first and second alignment layers may also help to limit the extent of the display medium layer to prevent or reduce contact between the display medium layer and the uncured frame glue.

Accordingly, the hydrophobic surface and the edge of the independent central portion of at least one of the first and second alignment layers prevent or reduce degradation of the performance of the display panel, which may be due to contamination of the display medium layer caused by contact of the display medium layer with the uncured sealant.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A display panel, comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate assembled with the first substrate;

the display medium layer is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate;

the frame glue is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate and surrounds the display medium layer;

the first alignment layer is arranged on the first substrate and between the first substrate and the display medium layer;

a second alignment layer disposed on the second substrate and between the second substrate and the display medium layer, wherein one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer has an independent central portion; and

A hydrophobic surface extending from an edge of the freestanding central portion toward an edge of one of the first and second substrates, wherein the sealant extends at least between the hydrophobic surface and the edge of the one of the first and second substrates, and the hydrophobic surface comprises a hydrophobic material that is more hydrophobic than the freestanding central portion.

2. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the sealant covers the hydrophobic surface.

3. The display panel of claim 2, wherein the sealant partially covers the independent central portion.

4. The display panel of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second alignment layers further comprises an outer portion, a gap separating the outer portion from the free-standing central portion, and the hydrophobic surface extends in the gap.

5. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the freestanding central portion and the sealant are separated by a gap, and the hydrophobic surface extends in the gap.

6. The display panel of claim 1, wherein an edge of the sealant is aligned with a boundary between the free-standing central portion and the hydrophobic surface.

7. The display panel of claim 1, further comprising: an underlying hydrophobic surface disposed under the freestanding central portion, wherein the underlying hydrophobic surface comprises the same material as the hydrophobic surface.

8. The display panel of claim 7, further comprising: an outer hydrophobic surface extending between the hydrophobic surface and the edge of one of the first and second substrates, wherein the outer hydrophobic surface comprises the same material as the hydrophobic surface.

9. The display panel of claim 8, wherein the hydrophobic surface, the underlying hydrophobic surface, and the outer hydrophobic surface extend continuously on the same level.

10. The display panel of claim 1, further comprising: an inorganic layer disposed on one of the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein a portion of the inorganic layer has a top surface as the hydrophobic surface.

11. The display panel of claim 10, wherein another portion of the inorganic layer overlaps the free-standing central portion.

12. The display panel of claim 11, wherein the portion of the inorganic layer and the other of the portions of the inorganic layer extend continuously between one of the first and second substrates and one of the first and second alignment layers.

13. The display panel of claim 12, wherein a thickness of the inorganic layer is different from a thickness of one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer.

14. The display panel of claim 12, wherein a thickness of the inorganic layer is substantially the same as a thickness of one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer.

15. The display panel of claim 1, further comprising: a first inorganic layer and a second inorganic layer disposed on one of the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first inorganic layer is disposed between the second inorganic layer and one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer, the first inorganic layer has a gap exposing a portion of the second inorganic layer, and a top surface of the portion of the second inorganic layer serves as the hydrophobic surface.

16. The display panel of claim 15, wherein the first inorganic layer and the second inorganic layer are different materials.

17. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic material comprises a silane, a fluorinated silane, a long chain alcohol, or an acid.

18. A method of manufacturing a display panel, comprising:

Providing a first substrate and a second substrate;

forming an alignment material layer on one of the first substrate and the second substrate and patterning the alignment material layer to form an independent center portion;

forming a hydrophobic surface extending from an edge of the freestanding central portion toward an edge of one of the first and second substrates;

forming a sealant material on one of the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein a gap separates the sealant material from the freestanding central portion, and the hydrophobic surface extends in the gap;

dropping a display media material on the freestanding central portion, wherein the display media material is confined by the hydrophobic surface and is not in contact with the sealant material;

assembling the first substrate and the second substrate with the frame glue material; and

and curing the frame glue material to form the frame glue.

19. The method of manufacturing a display panel according to claim 18, wherein the hydrophobic surface is formed by performing hydrophobic modification on a portion of one of the first substrate and the second substrate, and the gap exposes the portion of one of the first substrate and the second substrate.

20. The method of manufacturing a display panel according to claim 18, further comprising: forming an inorganic layer on one of the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the gap between the freestanding central portion and the sealant material exposes the inorganic layer.

21. The method for manufacturing a display panel according to claim 20, wherein the hydrophobic surface is formed by performing hydrophobic modification on the inorganic layer.

22. The method of manufacturing the display panel of claim 18, wherein the alignment material layer is completely coated on one of the first substrate and the second substrate and patterned to form an alignment layer, and the alignment layer includes the independent central portion and an outer portion, wherein the gap separates the outer portion from the independent central portion.

23. The method for manufacturing a display panel according to claim 22, wherein the hydrophobic surface is formed by performing hydrophobic modification on a portion of one of the first substrate and the second substrate, and the gap exposes the portion.